UH softball team knocks off Cal, falls to Pacific

Hawaii freshman Sarina Jaramillo's three-run home run highlighted a six-run third inning rally and the Rainbow Wahine softball team defeated California 6-2 on Saturday in the Jack in the Box Spring Fling Tournament.

UH left-hander Loie Kesterson gave up two runs in the second inning but held the Golden Bears without a hit over the next five innings in her second consecutive complete-game victory.

The Rainbow Wahine ended the evening with a 4-2 loss to Pacific and enters the final day of the tournament at 11-9 overall. UH faces James Madison at 12:30 p.m. Sunday in the tournament finale.

Cal, which rolled past UH 10-1 on Wednesday, took the lead on Jordan Wallace's home run on the first pitch of the second inning. Kylie Reed delivered an RBI single to right with two-out to give the Bears a 2-0 lead.

That would be the last hit surrendered by Kesterson. The sophomore didn't allow a Cal runner to reach second base in the final five innings and finished with four strikeouts and four walks while throwing 97 pitches.

UH loaded the bases with one out in the third and scored its first run when Sharla Kliebenstein was hit by a pitch. Kaile Nakao drove in the tying run with a sacrifice fly to center and Ulu Matagiese followed with an RBI single through the left side of the infield to score Kristina Akiona with the go-ahead run.

After a pitching change, Jaramillo worked the count full before launching her first career home run, a three-run shot to left field to extend UH's lead to 6-2.

In Saturday's finale, Pacific took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second on Alex Steinmehl's RBI groundout.

UH strung together four consecutive two-out singles in the third, tying the game when Carlos drove in Lindsey Willmon from second. The 'Bows then took the lead on Leisha Li'ili'i's line drive to right-center to score Jazmine Zamora.

During a substitution, UH coach Bob Coolen got into an argument with first base umpire Vince Price and was ejected from the game.

Pacific tied the game in the fourth on Taylor Brink's RBI fielder's choice grounder and took a 3-2 lead when Nicole Zapotoczny homered with two out in the fifth. Melanie Habib then added a two-out RBI single in the top of the sixth.

UH opened the bottom of the sixth by loading the bases on a single and two walks. But UOP pitcher Dani Bonnet got a popup, a force out at the plate and called third strike to end the threat.

Bonnet stranded another UH runner in the seventh to close out the win. Carlos (0-2) went the distance for UH in the loss.